FRIDAY EVENING, ODYSSEY CAFE 5:30 p.m. Gather with fellow writers from far and near at the Odyssey Café for a social evening of beer, finger food, and entertainment.
Sponsored by Last Best (Bearhill Brewing)
The Other Kind of Happiness, MACDONALD HALL 9:30—10:45 a.m.
Greg Hollingshead talks about how, at a time when it’s said only laws, justice, and technology can save the world, a literary artist continues to engage; about how an artist must, as Chekhov advises, remember that she knows nothing; and about the kind of happiness that writers know.
Creativity & Happiness, MACDONALD HALL 1:30—2:45 p.m. Patrick Finn
Respect for Character, Location TBA, Saturday 3:00-5:30 p.m.
From her years in theatre, Marina Endicott brings a series of exercises and techniques for creating characters who leap off the page and make us believe in their reality. Find concrete physicality and a true voice for your characters with useful techniques employed by actors and playwrights. Looking at point of view, narrative text v. scene-work, monologue and dialogue, we will explore unexpected methods for writers to deepen their understanding of characters and bring them more fully to life.
Please come prepared to work on a couple of characters you already have in mind.
Sponsored by CanAuthors Alberta Branch
Gorgeous obsessions: The creative potential of nonfiction, Location TBA, Saturday 3:00-5:30 p.m.
Nonfiction is often seen as the dowdy guest to the literary party—in fact, it even needs to be adorned with the adjective “creative” just to get an invite. In this workshop, Julie Sedivy dispels the notion that language that is tethered to reality is any less inventive than the other kind, and highlights nonfiction as the natural art form for the obsessively curious. Participants will explore the unique allure that nonfiction holds for them personally, and will learn how to stretch their expressive powers through a variety of literary structures and techniques.
Prologue - The Building Blocks of Dramatic Writing, Location TBA, Saturday 3:00-5:30 p.m.
Have you read, seen and participated in theatre, but have never thought like a dramatic writer thinks? Join Trevor Rueger of the Alberta Playwrights Network in an intensive which discusses the building blocks of dramatic writing using Hamlet as the source material. Trevor will cover Aristotelean Unities, exposition, conflict/crisis/resolution, comedy, character, structure, as well as the difference between writing for the stage as opposed to other genres (novel, film, short story, poetry.)
Sponsored by Alberta Playwrights Network
ALBERTA LITERARY AWARDS WINE & CHEESE GALA, MACDONALD HALL, Saturday 7:30 p.m. Doors 8:00 p.m.
Please join us during our conference weekend for a wine and cheese reception that will celebrate the work of Alberta authors. We will award literary prizes in numerous categories and we will have ample time to connect with old friends and make some new ones. The Writers' Guild of Alberta is pleased to host this annual celebration and we hope to see you there! Hosted by WGA board member and book blogger Anne Logan. Semi-formal.
Silent Auction, Location TBA, Bidding closes Saturday 7:00 p.m.
While taking in the wide array of speakers and sessions, we invite you to take some time and bid on the silent auction, running for the duration of the conference. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go directly back to the WGA, helping us to continue providing you with worthwhile, affordable programming. This fundraising initiative is brought to you by the fund development committee and board of directors.
The book table is brought to you by Shelf Life Books. Enjoy perusing and purchasing books by the presenters and the Alberta Literary Awards shortlist.
9:30-10:45
1:15-2:30 
Respect for Character with Marina Endicott
Gorgeous Obsessions: The creative potential of nonfiction with Julie Sedivy
Prologue - The Building Blocks of Dramatic Writing with Trevor Rueger sponsored by
